UN Envoy Visits Syria In Bid To Restart Peace Talks

The United Nation's special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has arrived in Damascus for talks with officials.

De Mistura refused to speak with journalists upon his arrival in the Syrian capital late on February 15 for a one-day visit.

He is expected to meet with officials on February 16, including Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem, to discuss efforts to restart peace talks in Geneva by the end of the month.

De Mistura suspended indirect peace talks between representatives of the government and the opposition when they collapsed in Geneva after just two days earlier this month, largely because of a major offensive launched by Russian-backed government forces in the northern city of Aleppo, a rebel stronghold.

But he hopes to bring the parties back to the negotiating table in Geneva by February 25.

His visit comes days after world powers agreed to cease hostilities in Syria within a week.